Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experiences of hospice and palliative care (HPC) nurses at inpatient hospice centers in South Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: Data collection was conducted through individual interviews with 15 HPC nurses using face-to-face interviews, telephone calls, or Zoom videoconferencing. Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Results: This study found that HPC nurses experienced practical and ethical dilemmas that reinforced the essential meaning and value of hospice and palliative care. The participants emphasized their practical roles related to compliance with infection prevention measures and their roles as rebuilders of hospice and palliative care. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that inpatient hospice centers must mitigate the practical and ethical dilemmas experienced by nurses, consider establishing explanation nursing units, and provide education to support nurses’ highlighted roles during the pandemic. This study can be used to prepare inpatient hospice centers and the nurses that work there for future infectious disease outbreaks.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigatecomplementary therapiesprovided at hospice palliative care facilities in South Koreaas designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Methods: The survey was conducted via e-mail from September 2 to September 23, 2020, with responsesfrom 109 therapists and 59 managers from 55 different hospice care facilities. Results: Hospices provided an average of 3.67 different types of therapies, ranging from 1 to 7 different types. The most common types of therapies were horticultural therapy (81.4%), music therapy (79.7%), art therapy (76.3%), and aromatherapy (57.6%).The average frequency of sessions was once a week, the median duration was 60 minutes.Most therapists (96.3%) had qualifications, but the certification-issuing organizations and training intensiveness varied greatly. None of the therapists were employed on a full-time basis, and their average monthly income was KRW 270,000. Therapists and managers gave average scores of 8.90 and 8.38 out of 10, respectively, regarding the positive impact of complementary therapies on patients. Conclusion In order for patients and their families to benefit from complementary therapiesat hospice care facilities, in addition tobetter terms of employment for therapists, evidence-based guidelines for different types of therapies are needed so that therapy sessions can be conducted according to the theoretical underpinnings and characteristics of the type of therapy. It is expected that the results of this study will be used for policy-making in support of therapy as an essential hospice service.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigatecomplementary therapiesprovided at hospice palliative care facilities in South Koreaas designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Methods: The survey was conducted via e-mail from September 2 to September 23, 2020, with responsesfrom 109 therapists and 59 managers from 55 different hospice care facilities. Results: Hospices provided an average of 3.67 different types of therapies, ranging from 1 to 7 different types. The most common types of therapies were horticultural therapy (81.4%), music therapy (79.7%), art therapy (76.3%), and aromatherapy (57.6%).The average frequency of sessions was once a week, the median duration was 60 minutes.Most therapists (96.3%) had qualifications, but the certification-issuing organizations and training intensiveness varied greatly. None of the therapists were employed on a full-time basis, and their average monthly income was KRW 270,000. Therapists and managers gave average scores of 8.90 and 8.38 out of 10, respectively, regarding the positive impact of complementary therapies on patients. Conclusion In order for patients and their families to benefit from complementary therapiesat hospice care facilities, in addition tobetter terms of employment for therapists, evidence-based guidelines for different types of therapies are needed so that therapy sessions can be conducted according to the theoretical underpinnings and characteristics of the type of therapy. It is expected that the results of this study will be used for policy-making in support of therapy as an essential hospice service.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine person-centered care, nursing professionalism, the nursing work environment, and empathy capacity among hospice ward nurses and to identify the factors affecting person-centered care. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire completed by 120 nurses at 30 inpatient hospice institutions in South Korea from August 24, 2020 to September 8, 2020. The independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The scores were 3.76±0.45 for person-centered care, 3.58± 0.47 for nursing professionalism, 3.24±0.57 for the nursing work environment, and 4.00± 0.46 for empathy capacity. There were positive correlations between the variables. Factors that influenced the person-centered care of hospice nurses were being a manager (β=0.20, P=0.002), high nursing professionalism (β=0.20, P=0.012), a better nursing work environ-ment (β=0.15, P=0.033), and high empathy capacity (β=0.51, P＜0.001). The explanatorypower was 65.3%. Conclusion To reinforce the person-centered care competency of hospice nurses, it is necessary to improve nursing professionalism, the nursing work environment, and empathy competency. Opportunities for nurses to practice independently must be expanded for nurses to develop nursing professionalism. Sufficient nursing personnel and material resources must be provided to nurses to cultivate a positive work environment.Empathy should be improved by implementing integrated education programs that include nursing practice situations.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of liver transplantation (LT) recipients and explore certain factors that influence nutritional status, including dietary patterns and physical activities. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The subjects included 211 LT recipients at a medical center outpatient clinic located in Seoul, Korea. The nutritional status, dietary patterns, and physical activities of each subject were measured using the body mass index (BMI), Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA), and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The percentages of living and deceased donor LTs were 81.0% and 19.0%, respectively. The mean BMIs pre- and post-LT were 23.88 and 23.16 kg/m2, respectively, and the average MDA score was 36.55. More than 60.0% of the subjects had a moderate or high level of physical activity. In multivariate analysis, a higher BMI before LT (β=.72, p<.001), a lower Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (β=−.18, p<.001), and being male (β=−.10, p=.024) contributed to better nutritional status post-LT. Patients within six months of LT were less engaged in muscle exercises than those post six months of LT (p=.020). CONCLUSION LT recipients in Korea have good nutritional status and a good level of physical activity. To improve recipients' post-LT nutritional status, the pre-LT nutritional status should be considered, particularly in those with a higher MELD score. In addition, physical activity including muscle-strengthening exercises should be encouraged from an earlier stage.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of liver transplantation (LT) recipients and explore certain factors that influence nutritional status, including dietary patterns and physical activities. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The subjects included 211 LT recipients at a medical center outpatient clinic located in Seoul, Korea. The nutritional status, dietary patterns, and physical activities of each subject were measured using the body mass index (BMI), Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA), and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The percentages of living and deceased donor LTs were 81.0% and 19.0%, respectively. The mean BMIs pre- and post-LT were 23.88 and 23.16 kg/m2, respectively, and the average MDA score was 36.55. More than 60.0% of the subjects had a moderate or high level of physical activity. In multivariate analysis, a higher BMI before LT (β=.72, p<.001), a lower Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (β=−.18, p<.001), and being male (β=−.10, p=.024) contributed to better nutritional status post-LT. Patients within six months of LT were less engaged in muscle exercises than those post six months of LT (p=.020). CONCLUSION: LT recipients in Korea have good nutritional status and a good level of physical activity. To improve recipients' post-LT nutritional status, the pre-LT nutritional status should be considered, particularly in those with a higher MELD score. In addition, physical activity including muscle-strengthening exercises should be encouraged from an earlier stage.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Body Mass Index ; Exercise ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutritional Status ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors ; Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: The indocyanine green (ICG) finger monitoring method is a newly developed noninvasive method for the ICG clearance test. This study was performed to determine its clinical usefulness compared with the conventional blood sampling method. METHODS: The ICG clearance test was performed on 270 patients using both the conventional blood sampling method and the finger monitoring method simultaneously. The plasma disappearance rate of the ICG and the 15-minute retention ratio (ICG R15) were analyzed and compared with the conventional blood sampling method. RESULTS: The plasma disappearance rate using the finger monitoring method was slightly lower than that of the conventional blood sampling method with good correlation (r=0.840, P<0.001). ICG R15 using finger monitoring method was slightly higher than that of the conventional blood sampling method with good correlation (r=0.839, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As there was a good correlation between the conventional blood sampling method and the finger monitoring method, the latter method seemed to be clinically useful due to its convenience and accuracy.
Fingers* ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been identified as a promising biochemical marker for congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently, the NT-proBNP assay using electrochemiluminescence method has been developed. We evaluated clinical utilities of the NT-proBNP assay and its relationship with echocardiographic parameters. METHODS: The NT-proBNP was measured in eighty-four patients who experienced an echocardiographic examination. We compared the NT-proBNP level with several echocardiographic parameters for the left ventricular systolic function and cardiac chamber dimensions. RESULTS: The NT-proBNP level was significantly increased as with a decreasing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). It was also positively correlated with the left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular end diastolic dimension, and left ventricular end systolic dimension. In patients with left atrial and ventricular enlargement, the mean NT-proBNP level was 7418.4 +/-9937.7 pg/mL, which was significantly elevated compared with 354.3 +/-749.8 pg/mL in patients with normal cardiac chamber dimensions (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The NT-proBNP showed a significant correlation with echocardiographic parameters, especially for the systolic function and chamber enlargement. Therefore, the NT-proBNP seemed to be a new and promising alternative biochemical marker for CHF.
Biomarkers ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND: The ABO antibody titration is important, especially in case of ABO-incompatible hemolytic disease of newborn, ABO-incompatible bone marrow or solid organ transplantation. However, no standard method for ABO antibody titration has yet been established. We surveyed four university hospitals about the methods of ABO antibody titration and performed inter-laboratory proficiency tests. METHODS: Detailed methods of ABO antibody titration were surveyed at four university hospitals. ABO antibody titer was measured by their customary methods using serum samples from six healthy volunteers with blood groups A (n=2), B (n=2) and O (n=2). RESULTS: Procedures of ABO antibody titration, reportable ranges, sample diluent, source of reagent RBCs and interpretation of end-point were different among four university hospitals. Inter-institutional maximum differences of IgM and IgG ABO antibody titer were 16-fold and 32-fold, respectively. CONCLUSION: Standardization of ABO antibody titration method is needed to reduce inter-laboratory variability, and a periodical external quality control survey is necessary to improve the accuracy of the titration.
Blood Group Antigens ; Bone Marrow ; Erythroblastosis, Fetal ; Hospitals, University ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Organ Transplantation ; Quality Control ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Leukoreduced blood components are recommended for prevention of non-hemolytic febrile transfusion reactions, HLA alloimmunization, platelet transfusion refractoriness, and transfusion-transmissible diseases. In addition, prestorage leukoreduction may be advantageous to poststorage leukoreduction. The authors investigated the current status of usage of leukoreduced blood components in Korea. METHODS: We surveyed 2,373 medical facilities, where blood components were supplied from Korean Red Cross blood centers and/or Hanmaeum blood center during one year period between January and December 2009. The survey was conducted about the current situation of usage of leukoreduction by web-based program (http://bms.cdc.go.kr), and 743 facilities answered and were analyzed. RESULTS: The leukoreduced RBC components comprised 10.3% (prestorage leukoreduction, 91,066 units, 5.7%; poststorage leukoreduction 73,192 units, 4.6%) of the total 1,593,098 units of RBC components used in 743 medical facilities. The leukoreduced platelet concentrates comprised 33.1% (458,552 units) of the total 1,386,184 units of platelet concentrates used in 397 medical facilities. If 1 single donor platelet is counted as 6 platelet concentrates, 48.9% of the total platelet components used were leukoreduced. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of leukoreduced blood components to the total blood components used in Korea was much lower than that in Unites States of America, especially lower in the use of prestorage leukoreduction of RBC components. Further studies are required for cost-effectiveness and demand-supply amounts of leukoreduced blood components, and appropriate prestorage leukoreduction has to be performed in Korea based on these studies.
Americas ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets ; Glycolates ; Humans ; Korea ; Platelet Transfusion ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors